The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season outlook was made today. Find out what the National Hurricane Center is expecting this season.

After such a memorable hurricane season last year which featured Hurricane Sandy, many of us will be taking note of the National Hurricane Center's Atlantic hurricane season outlook which they issued today. Here is a quick look at the number of named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher) they expect this season.

"For the six-month hurricane season, which begins June 1, NOAA's Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook says there is a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher).

These ranges are well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes."

Reasons for the above-average activity are warmer than average sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic, near-normal sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, and the continuation of the overall atmospheric climate pattern responsible for the high activity era since 1995.

How does this compare to last season? Here was the National Hurricane Center's 2012 season recap.

"For the 2012 Atlantic season, 19 named storms formed, of which 10
became hurricanes. One of those hurricanes, Michael, reached major hurricane status. Activity fore 2012 was well above the 30-year (1981-2010) average for named storms and hurricanes, and below average for major hurricanes. The 1981-2010 seasonal averages for the Atlantic Basin are 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes."